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Jumper Jerome out 5-6 months after surgery

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December 14, 2006

Jessica Jerome, ranked No. 3 in the world last year in women’s jumping and the leading U.S. women’s jumper during the first half of the current season, is resting at home after surgery to repair torn ligaments in her right knee, sustained in a training crash.PARK CITY, Utah — Jessica Jerome, ranked No. 3 in the world last year in women’s jumping and the leading U.S. women’s jumper during the first half of the current season, is resting at home after surgery to repair torn ligaments in her right knee, sustained in a training crash. Melinda Roalstad, medical director for the U.S. Ski Team, said Jerome underwent surgery Tuesday by Dr. Vernon Cooley at The Orthopedic Surgery Hospital in Salt Lake City for reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament and repair of her medial collateral ligament, too. “She’ll be out five or six months,” Roalstad said. Jerome, 19, a student at Westminster College in Salt Lake City when she’s not training or competing, injured the ligaments and dislocated her right elbow Dec. 2 when she crashed after landing a training jump at Howelsen Hill in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Roalstad said the surgery was delayed until swelling had gone down. “I’m not sure how it happened,” Jerome said. “I landed my jump and was going through the outrun and I caught an edge … and that was it. So, my season’s over; I don’t expect to be jumping in late March or April, so I’ll wait until June or so when [Utah Olympic Park] reopens. I definitely didn’t want this to happen, but I’m fine and the surgery went well.” Jerome, who had five top-five finishes in the current Continental Cup season, including two podiums, said she hoped to be out later this week when nordic combined World Cup-B action starts with jumping at Utah Olympic Park followed by cross-country racing at Soldier Hollow. “I can’t do much for a week or so, but I want to be out there Friday and Saturday to cheer for the Americans,” she said.